Skip to Content

Strengthening Sacramento’s Healthcare Workforce Pipeline

The Health and Life Sciences Regional Workforce Advisory, held on October 4, 2024, brought together industry leaders, educators, and workforce development professionals to address the growing demand for skilled surgical and radiologic technologist professionals, as well as the need for alignment around clinical placements. Building on the Talent Pipeline Management (TPM) Healthcare Employer Collaborative and insights from the Folsom Lake Healthcare Summit earlier this year, this event continued the collaborative efforts to align educational programs with workforce needs. Hosted by Valley Vision in partnership with the Los Rios Community College District, the advisory featured valuable insights into workforce trends and strategies to strengthen clinical placement opportunities across the Greater Sacramento region, with a focus on local and developing employer needs. (For more on the Folsom Lake Healthcare Summit, click here.)

The advisory highlighted the rapidly increasing demand for surgical and radiologic technologists. According to the Greater Sacramento North Far North Center of Excellence for Labor Market Research, jobs in these fields are projected to grow by 16% over the next five years, double the average regional growth rate. With starting wages expected to range from $35.83 to $39.82 per hour, major healthcare employers are actively seeking qualified candidates. As healthcare systems grow, the need for these roles will likely continue to rise.

The event featured a panel of healthcare and workforce leaders who shared their perspectives on the challenges and opportunities in the sector. Panelists included:

  • Daniel Weaver, Director of Diagnostic Imaging, Marshall Medical
  • Rob Marchuk, Vice President of Operations, Dignity Health Medical Foundation and CommonSpirit Health
  • Adamanda Phillips, Nursing Director of Clinical Decision Area and Inpatient Operations, Sutter Roseville Medical Center
  • Lyndon Huling, Executive Director of Talent Acquisition and Compensation Services, UC Davis Health
  • Delane Mason, Executive Director of Radiology, UC Davis Health

Moderated by Hilary Tellesen, Workforce Development Director at Valley Vision, the panel emphasized the importance of collaboration between healthcare providers and educational institutions to build a sustainable talent pipeline and support clinical placements.

The employer panel discussed how the Talent Pipeline Management (TPM) process helped address the challenges caused by varying job titles for radiologic and surgical technologists. By fostering collaboration among healthcare employers, TPM curriculum facilitated open discussions about staffing challenges and enabled the development of strategies to align training programs with shared employer needs in the region. 

Clinical placements remain a significant challenge in healthcare education. Panelists and audience members at the advisory discussed the importance of building stronger partnerships between hospitals and colleges to expand placement opportunities. Improved communication and coordination between colleges and healthcare providers were highlighted as essential steps to optimize clinical placement capacity and support student success. Several healthcare leaders shared their current efforts to increase clinical placements. For example, UC Davis Health hosts over 30 radiology students annually, and other hospitals in the region are exploring ways to expand their capacity despite staffing challenges.

One of the central themes of the meeting was the importance of aligning community college programs with evolving healthcare industry requirements. Rana Ghadban, CEO of the Roseville Chamber of Commerce, the hosting organization of the region’s Healthcare Employer Collaborative, emphasized the role of the Talent Pipeline Management (TPM) framework in fostering collaboration between employers and educational institutions. “This framework allows us to break down complex workforce challenges, identify solutions to strengthen the talent pipeline, and measure the effectiveness of our efforts,” Ghadban explained. The TPM framework not only supports collaboration but also provides a structured process for addressing workforce challenges, ensuring that educational programs remain relevant and aligned with industry demands.
The Health and Life Sciences Regional Workforce Advisory showcased the power of collaboration in addressing workforce challenges in the healthcare sector. Through continued collaboration and alignment with industry needs, Sacramento’s healthcare sector is paving the way for a workforce talent pipeline that ensures a healthier future for the region.

Community Innovator, We Prosper Together, Shares Strategies Primed to Increase Economic Growth in the Capital Region

The Regional Plan: Strategies for a Thriving and Inclusive Economy charts a bold path to a more resilient, inclusive, and prosperous future
 
SACRAMENTO, CA — October 28, 2024 — We Prosper Together unveiled its Regional Plan: Strategies for a Thriving and Inclusive Economy, a community-driven framework providing the blueprint for a more resilient, sustainable, and equitable economy for the Capital Region. This strategic plan—the result of a two-year-long collaboration—identifies key priorities that will shape future investments, including those supported by We Prosper Together through California’s Regional Investment Initiative.

“The completion of We Prosper Together’s Regional Plan is another step towards building an equitable and sustainable regional economy,” said Evan Schmidt, Chief Executive Officer of Valley Vision. “Shaped by economic research and input from communities across our region, this economic framework will create more quality jobs by helping to move innovative ideas to fruition, bring projects to life, and accelerate the region toward a future where all families can thrive.”

The Regional Plan outlines actionable strategies to achieve more high-quality jobs, lower barriers to access, and foster more equitable outcomes for local families. The plan identifies two primary strategies:

  • Target Sector Strategies: Strategies focusing on investments in four high-growth sectors with the greatest potential for quality job creation. These sectors include Business Services, Precision Manufacturing, Working Lands, and Research & Development.
  • Economic Mobility Strategies: Approaches connecting disinvested communities with existing high-quality job opportunities ensuring future economic growth results in equitable outcomes for the region’s residents. These approaches include workforce development, outreach and awareness, transportation, childcare, and housing.

Developed through robust community feedback, stakeholder interviews, surveys, and comprehensive research conducted by Brookings Institute-affiliated Cities GPS, the Regional Plan takes into account the distinct needs, strengths, and opportunities across the region to create a collective vision for the future. 

“The Regional Plan not only exemplifies the strength and opportunity of cross-regional collaboration but also sets us up to make targeted investments that can transform our region,” said James Corless, Executive Director of the Sacramento Area Council of Governments. “Only by coming together can we create a local economy that works for everyone and ensures all have access to the resources they need to prosper.”

The Regional Plan: Strategies for a Thriving and Inclusive Economy serves as a unifying roadmap cultivating a resilient, sustainable, and equitable economy empowering all local residents. The Regional Plan builds upon July 2023’s Capital Region Economic Assessment, a holistic assessment of the Capital Region’s economic, climate, and public health as part of the California Jobs First program. The Regional Plan concludes a two-year planning phase that included establishing We Prosper Together’s Collaborative, extensive community engagement, and the development of a shared regional strategy. We Prosper Together will now transition from planning to implementation, leveraging existing strategies and subregional efforts to drive progress.

The full Regional Plan can be found at https://www.weprospertogether.org/our-regional-plan.  

City of Sacramento Passes Digital Inclusion Week Resolution

In early October, Valley Vision joined organizations across the nation to celebrate Digital Inclusion Week, an annual recognition week designed to advocate the importance of achieving digital equity for communities, celebrate digital inclusion achievements, and elevate local digital inclusion practices.

This year’s theme, “Stronger Together: Mobilizing Towards Sustainability,” emphasizes the importance of recognizing sustainability in partnerships and resources throughout the digital inclusion process in order to create a lasting impact towards digital equity.

Digital Inclusion Week Action

In support of this theme, Valley Vision, through the Capital Region Coalition for Digital Inclusion (CRCDI), conducted outreach support for Computers4Kids’ computer donation drive, in order to help connect with businesses and individuals in the region to donate their used devices in order to be refurbished.   

The drive consisted of both a business outreach portion as well as a donation event at the Teen Center in West Sacramento on October 9th. Through business outreach, Computers4Kids secured a Computer Donation Partner arrangement with Quick Quack Car Wash. Quick Quack Car Wash provided several used desktop computers for the event, and committed to donating regularly in the future.  

City of Sacramento Presents Digital Inclusion Week Resolution

On October 22nd, Valley Vision attended Sacramento City Council to accept the city’s Resolution acknowledging Digital Inclusion Week, presented by Councilmember Katie Valenzuela. The Resolution, developed in partnership with CRCDI, recognizes the longstanding commitment of CRCDI and its partner organizations in delivering digital inclusion support and services across the region, in order to bridge the digital divide.

Valley Vision was joined by partners across the region, including California State University, Sacramento, Computers4Kids, Sacramento Public Library, Sagent Marketing, United Way Connected Capital Region, and World Education. Kevin Flash, CRCDI Chair, and Dawnte Early, CEO of United Way California Capital Region and Valley Vision Board Member provided public comment during the presentation, highlighting the importance of continued partnerships in digital inclusion efforts and recognizing the city’s ongoing commitment to digital equity.

Valley Vision is thankful to the City of Sacramento for its longstanding commitment to supporting digital inclusion activities in the region, as well as leading recognition of Digital Inclusion Week within the Greater Sacramento Region. In October 2019, the City of Sacramento was the first within the region to pass this resolution, formally launching National Digital Inclusion Week in the region.

Digital Inclusion Week 2023

In support of 2023’s theme, “Building Connected Communities,” Valley Vision, as manager of the Capital Region Coalition for Digital Inclusion (CRCDI), hosted an Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) enrollment site at the Robla Family Festival on October 7th. As a result of the Coalition’s efforts, 50 households received the opportunity to inquire about or sign-up for ACP. Following the enrollment event, 4 households which signed-up for ACP were selected to receive a free laptop device.

As a part of CRCDI’s efforts for Digital Inclusion Week, Sacramento City Councilmembers Katie Valenzuela and Lisa Kaplan attended the Robla Family Festival to present the city’s Resolution acknowledging Digital Inclusion Week to Valley Vision, CRCDI, and United Way Connected Capital Region.

$80,000 Awarded for Digital Equity Investments Across Four CCABC Jurisdictions

Valley Vision and the California Emerging Technology Fund (CETF) are pleased to announce $20,000 Digital Equity Leadership Grant awards to four local government jurisdictions in the Connected Capital Area Broadband Consortium (CCABC) region. The Local Governments in the Greater Sacramento Region receiving the Digital Equity Leadership Grant awards are:

  • City of Citrus Heights
  • City of Isleton
  • City of West Sacramento
  • Yuba County

As part of the grant award, the four CCABC jurisdictions join the list of 36 awarded jurisdictions across California committed to participating in the Local Government Best Practices Check List Project, in order to support the adoption of policies and practices, as well as accelerate progress in closing the Digital Divide in California. The project includes attending quarterly Learning Community roundtables; the concept of the Learning Community recognizes that local leaders will drive progress if supported to share their experiences to coach one another with peer accountability for measurable progress.

“The County appreciates the opportunity to commune and engage with the greater California broadband stakeholder community to incorporate best practices on broadband expansion, toward the goal of maximizing connectivity for the citizens of Yuba County. We are pleased to accept the support of the California Emerging Technology Fund in furthering the County’s broadband mission, and look forward to pursuing implementation of lessons that have been learned elsewhere. Digital inclusion and digital equity are at the forefront of economic development priorities, as their expansion has the potential to have an outsized positive impact on all aspects of participation in the modern economy.”

–Ian Scott, Yuba County Special Projects Manager

“I look forward to applying the award to best advantage for our people that reside here, local businesses that have chosen Isleton for their nexus, and the outsiders that visit this unique location. We intend to emphasize affordability and accessibility throughout the application of this award. With limited access to transportation services and basic infrastructure, beautiful semi-rural communities like Isleton must seek their future online.”

-David Kent, City of Isleton Councilmember

Local Governments will be able to use the $20,000 Grant as they see most useful to close the Digital Divide in their jurisdiction. They also will be provided information by CETF about affordable lower-cost Internet service plans and available digital literacy training resources to distribute in their digitally-disadvantaged neighborhoods.

About the Local Government Best Practices Check List Project:

The Local Government Best Practices Check List was developed and released in 2021 by CETF, Regional Broadband Consortia, and the California State Association of Counties. It sets forth 5 Best Practices for each of 5 Roles that Local Governments can play in closing the Digital Divide, promoting Digital Inclusion, and achieving Digital Equity: (1) Policy Leader; (2) Planner; (3) Regulator; (4) Consumer Purchaser; and (5) Service Provider. The Check List provides a framework for Local Governments to assess their own progress.

These 5 Roles were first delineated in a Resource Guide for Local and Regional Leaders published by CETF in 2010 in collaboration with the Orange County Business Council and updated in 2021 in partnership with Valley Vision, the fiscal agent for the Connected Capital Area Broadband Consortium.

The updated resource guide, “Getting Connected: A Broadband Deployment and Adoption Resource Guide for Local and Regional Government Leaders” highlights the Local Government Best Practices Check List, as well as broadband masterplans, ordinances, and case studies to support local government leadership in broadband deployment. The Getting Connected resource guide continues to be a valuable resource for governments, with mentions across several toolkits, including the California Department of Technology.

Getting-Connected-A-Broadband-Deployment-and-Adoption-Resource-Guide-For-Local-and-Regional-Government-LeadersDownload

Grant Partnerships

Sunne McPeak, CEO of the California Emerging Technology Fund, notes: “We are grateful to Valley Vision for reaching out and engaging leading-edge jurisdictions to pave the path forward.  There is so much power and innovation that emerges when we join forces to deploy high-speed Internet infrastructure and get all residents online—especially the most digitally-disadvantaged residents in low-income communities.” McPeak also expressed appreciation to the California Department of Technology (CDT) Office of Broadband and Digital Literacy for contributing valuable content about broadband deployment permit streamlining to the Learning Community. CDT Broadband Access & Deployment Advisor Maria Kelly will be participating in the Learning Community to help support the 36 Local Governments.

Valley Vision is thankful to CETF for its $80,000 investment into the region, as the region’s awarded jurisdictions will receive guidance and support on digital access best practices from the 36 awarded jurisdictions across the state, as well as flexibility in digital equity opportunities to pursue through their grant award.

Investments Towards Equity: Supporting Device Access and Digital Literacy with Leataata Floyd Elementary School

Valley Vision, joined by community partners, announced a $50,000 digital equity grant award from AT&T that is being used for support device distribution and training. The AT&T Neighborhood Transformation Grant is supporting digital literacy and access to new computers for unserved and underserved residents of two public housing projects in the city of Sacramento, Marina Vista and Alder Grove.

Additionally, the grant is supporting the development of a Community Resource Center, with access to devices for families and a laptop lending program, to be managed by Leataata Floyd Elementary School. The Community Resource Center will feature digital literacy training provided by community partners.

As part of the grant, Valley Vision acquired 133 new laptop devices through partnership a with Human I-T. The next step for the project, led by Leataata Floyd Elementary and supported by Valley Vision and the Sacramento Housing and Development Agency, includes conducting a community needs survey, launching the Resource Center, and hosting the laptop distribution event.

Supporting Leataata Floyd Elementary School

The AT&T grant builds upon the investment of the California Emerging Technology Fund (CETF), to implement the School2Home project, initiated in 2015, at Leataata Floyd Elementary School, with the support of Valley Vision.

As the first elementary school in the state to join the program, School2Home helped to provide the infrastructure and support services needed to increase both student achievement and family success, including chromebooks for every student to use in school and at home; enhanced teacher professional development and training on integration of technology into instruction; increased parent engagement; and student Tech Expert Development. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for affordable high speed internet access at home, along with more devices for families.

Community Partners

Valley Vision is thankful for the support of our partners from the Office of Representative Doris Matsui, city of Sacramento Councilmember Katie Valenzuela, Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency, and the Food Literacy Center, in celebrating the launch of the AT&T project grant award.

New Business Broadband Study Highlights Challenges and Opportunities for the Capital Region

Broadband for Business: A Path Forward for the Capital Region

For too long, businesses in the Sacramento region have struggled with broadband and Internet deficiencies. It hurts business operations, workers, bottom lines, and the overall economy. 

In a first-ever assessment of these conditions, Valley Vision has documented on-the-ground digital hardships and realities for businesses in the four-county region. The new report, “Broadband for Business: A Path Forward for the Capital Region,” identifies connectivity challenges and gaps for businesses in Sacramento, Yolo, Yuba, and Sutter counties, and provides recommendations and resources for solutions. 

While the research is specific to the Sacramento Capital Region, the findings and recommendations have relevance statewide and nationwide. Usually, research into digital inequities focuses on household and residential connectivity. This study extends those inquiries and concerns to the business community and identifies business-centric needs, challenges, opportunities, and solutions.

The work was supported by a grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration. The project was designed to improve broadband Internet access and usage for businesses in the Capital region. It focused particularly on smaller minority-owned and women-owned businesses, farming operations and businesses in rural communities, and businesses in aging commercial corridors as well as newer developments.

The need for the project was spotlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic, which showed that businesses did not have uniform access to reliable and affordable broadband service, nor the digital skills and training needed to thrive. The work of the project is an outgrowth of the Greater Sacramento Region’s Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy for 2020-2025, known commonly as The Prosperity Strategy. 

The project’s findings and recommendations were based on survey results, data and mapping research, literature reviews, and interviews and case studies. Data and mapping research included a first-ever overlaying of local data for areas zoned for business uses with data from the California Public Utilities Commission showing locations with inadequate broadband service. The maps developed by this project provide a new and granular level of data and information not previously available, and a roadmap for where solutions should be focused. 

Key findings include:

  • Conditions vary widely.
  • Getting accurate information about available services can be difficult.
  • More choices and competition are needed among broadband providers.
  • Service is often unreliable and speeds are often too slow for business needs.
  • Much of the need is hidden.
  • Businesses need more digital training and education.
  • Promising strategies, tools, and resources are available. 

The report provides recommended strategies, tools, and resources for all who have a role in remedying the situation, including:

  • Governments
  • Businesses
  • Groups that serve businesses such as Chambers of Commerce, Farm Bureaus, and Property and Business Improvement Districts
  • Internet service providers

Valley Vision worked with many partners on the study, and is grateful for their inputs and support. Valley Vision is a nonprofit civic leadership organization that has managed many projects to advance economic vitality in the Sacramento Capital Region over three decades. Valley Vision manages the Connected Capital Area Broadband Consortium, which is funded by the CPUC and serves as a resource hub and catalyst for broadband solutions.

For more information, contact Navreet Hundal, navreet.hundal@valleyvision.org.  

Planting the Seeds of Resilience: Listos California

Initiated in 2019, Listos California’s goal is to provide culturally competent materials to all Californians for disaster preparedness, including earthquakes, floods, and wildfires. Utilizing community-based organizations, Tribal governments, and Community Emergency Response Teams (CERTs), Listos Califonia has engaged millions of Californians with low incomes, disabilities, language barriers, older adults, and other highly vulnerable populations with culturally and linguistically appropriate support through a grass-roots, people-centered approach.

Valley Vision has been a key partner to Listos since its inception. Serving as Listos California’s backbone organization, Valley Vision collaborates to coordinate the work of creative, strategic, and programmatic partners to create and distribute culturally appropriate educational resources to Listos California grantees and all California residents. Together, our goal is to empower vulnerable individuals and strengthen community resilience across the state in the face of disasters.

The Office of Community Partnerships and Strategic Communications (OCPSC), like Listos California, recognizes the role that community partners have in reaching at-risk communities to make them resilient in the face of uncertainty. On April 24 through April  26, 2024 in Sacramento, Listos California partnered with the Office of Community Partnerships and Strategic Communications (OCPSC) to jointly host the Rooted. Resilient. Ready. 2024 Statewide Community Partner Convening. 

The first-of-its-kind, three-day gathering brought together 600+ trusted CBO messengers from diverse regions of the state, facilitated the exchange of success stories, deepened connections, and shared access to emerging resources. 

This convening allowed trusted messengers to learn new ways to best communicate emergency resiliency messages to California’s community members most at risk to disasters. Through interactive workshops, participants had the opportunity to collaborate on innovative approaches on grassroots communication strategies and learn about new ways to meet people where they are using culturally competent information. 

Additionally, participants attended networking sessions to grow their networks of trusted messengers who share critical life-saving information before, during, and after disasters. Anyone who is passionate about informing their community of emergency readiness can become a messenger, including YOU.

Listos California has a suite of in-language resources in over 12 languages available for download and professional printing. Resource topics span over the variety of natural disasters Californians face, mental health awareness, population specific materials and more. Interested in learning simple steps you can take today to keep yourself, your loved ones and neighbors safe? Click here to find out more. 

Additional Information

21st Century Workforce Impact Area: Year In Review

As the workforce intermediary for the Capital Region, Valley Vision connects education and workforce stakeholders around relevant, data-driven research to advance responsive and equitable career pathways. In 2022 Valley Vision’s 21st Century Impact Area produced six industry advisories, facilitated three webinars, convened three community listening sessions, and connected multiple stakeholders to advance in-demand occupations for our region.

The regional advisory topics spanned from the critical need for forestry management careers to growing occupations in biotechnology. Throughout the year, Valley Vision’s workforce team engaged over 500 workforce stakeholders, predominately in education, through these regional advisory meetings.  Information shared and connections made in these events leads to informing training investments, creating new and updated educational offerings, and helps the region stay responsive to current and emerging industry trends.

“I REALLY enjoy how these advisories focus on industry and the market trends data to inform and support the work that we do in the classroom. ”

– Career Technical Education teacher

Additionally, Valley Vision hosted two webinars, in partnership with The MetroBusiness Center, to help small business owners expand their talent pipelines and access training resources through the California Employment Training Panel. 

During the pandemic, the City of Sacramento and the Sacramento Employment and Training Agency (SETA) convened the Early Learning and Child Care Task Force to coordinate efforts and address issues in the Early Childcare Education industry. Valley Vision helped convene stakeholders around this issue and was commissioned to undertake a study illuminating major issues facing our region’s early childhood education workforce in partnership with the Centers of Excellence for the Greater Sacramento region. This report detailed the current landscape of the industry, upcoming market pressures, and set forth a series of recommendations for further investigation and possible implementation. Additionally, Valley Vision hosted a webinar in December 2022 to bring key industry stakeholders together to review this data and develop strategies to strengthen our region’s early childhood education workforce pipeline. 

Valley Vision held a series of in-person events in Sacramento, Yolo, and Placer counties to bring community voices to the forefront of discussion on clean economy careers.  These events engaged 67 community members and nonprofit partners to surface challenges and barriers to accessing and thriving in clean economy training programs.  

Valley Vision’s 21st Century Workforce impact area is dedicated to working toward a vision of an informed and empowered community where all residents are fully participating in a thriving and inclusive economy.  As the dynamics of work continue to change across industries, Valley Vision will continue to serve the region by bringing together research and stakeholders to advance responsive and equitable career pathways to ensure a livable future for all!

To keep up with Valley Vision’s work to advance a future-ready workforce in the Sacramento region, subscribe to our 21st Century Workforce email newsletter!

Sierra Northern Railway & Partners Conduct Public Briefing on Zero Emission Switching Locomotive

Release Date: January 10, 2023  

West Sacramento, California – January 5, 2022 – Sierra Northern Railway and partner Valley Vision conducted a public briefing of their Zero Emission Hydrogen Switching locomotive.  This webinar had several hundred registrants and was viewed by participants in eight nations, a significant number of states and a large cross section of Federal, State and local regulators as well as a broad cross section of industry insiders.

The online briefing outlined how the Sierra Northern Railway Zero Emission Locomotive will be transformative providing essential services for America’s railroads by proving the hydrogen-fueled units capable of improving air quality, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and increasing the quality of life in surrounding communities. 

To view the briefing visit Valley Vision’s website: https://bit.ly/H2LocoProject or view it on YouTube:  https://bit.ly/H2LocoWebinar

The Sierra Northern Railway unit will incorporate hydrogen fuel cells, hydrogen storage, and battery and control technologies that will clearly be more environmentally friendly than existing motive power.

“This is the right path for the future of zero-emissions motive power,” said Kennan Beard, president and CEO of Sierra Northern. “As the lead on this project, we’re confident hydrogen is here to stay and will be the true zero emission solution adopted by the State of California for Switching Locomotives.”  By using hydrogen and batteries as Sierra has the switching locomotive will run without any emissions of NOx pollution, carbon or other particulate matter from the unit’s operation. When operational, this unit will stop using as much as 10,000 gallons of conventional diesel fuel per year.  Sierra has a stated goal of having the first zero emission switching fleet in the nation and commercializing its technology to lead the industry into the zero-emission future. 

Evan Schmidt, Valley Vision CEO stated, “we are very pleased to work with Sierra Northern Railway as they lead the locomotive industry to Zero Emissions within their own fleet, and over time as they commercialize hydrogen locomotives across the State, and ultimately throughout the Nation.”

Sierra Northern Railway (SERA) the technical lead, partnering with GTI Energy as the formal applicant to the California Energy Commission. Other technical partners are Railpower Tech LLC, Optifuel Systems LLC, UC Riverside Center For Environmental Research and Technology, Velocity Strategies, Valley Vision, Ballard Power Systems, WHA International, Southern California Gas Company, the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District and The Low-Carbon Resources Initiative (LCRI).

# # #

$3 Million Federal Investment to Boost Digital Inclusion in Lemon Hill

Sacramento State University, Sacramento City College, Valley Vision, and partners will pilot a innovative digital navigator program in the Lemon Hill community of South Sacramento.

Valley Vision is very pleased to partner with California State University, Sacramento, through the Capital Region Coalition for Digital Inclusion (CRCDI), in bringing nearly $3 million in federal funding to our region from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). NTIA, through its new, highly competitive Connecting Minority Communities Pilot Program (CMC), is funding Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic Serving Institutions and others across the U.S. to address pervasive digital exclusion in minority communities. This major investment will support digital equity in our region through the creation of the Sacramento Regional Consortium for Digital Equity, a collaborative of Sacramento State, Valley Vision, Sacramento City College, Cosumnes River College, and community partners to connect underserved communities with vital digital inclusion resources. 

The Collaborative, led by Sacramento State, will develop a Digital Navigator Intern (DNI) program to serve the Lemon Hill community in Sacramento County. Through this program, students will be trained as Digital Navigators and deployed to Community Anchor Institutions working in Lemon Hill. Digital navigators are trusted guides who assist community members in internet adoption and the use of computing devices. Digital navigation services include ongoing assistance with affordable internet access, device acquisition, acquisition of digital skills, and application support. Sacramento State will also establish a Community Engagement Lab that will have essential software and equipment, will be staffed by the DNIs, and provide access for community training or open lab time for both the DNIs and community members.

Through the work of the CRCDI, the Lemon Hill neighborhood in Sacramento had been identified by the Sacramento Employment and Training Agency (SETA) as a priority underserved area based on demographic and economic indicators. This area has the highest poverty rate among communities in Sacramento County with populations of 10,000 or more, and became a focus for this grant. We are invigorated to take the efforts made by the CRCDI to the next level, working with Sacramento State, Los Rios and our community partners to bring digital navigators to our region. Dr. Robert S. Nelsen, President of Sacramento State, commented on this groundbreaking initiative:

“Sacramento State is thrilled that the NTIA saw the value in our proposal to help close the Digital Divide in Lemon Hill. As an Anchor University, we look forward to working with our partners, including Sacramento City College, the Greater Sacramento Urban League, La Familia Counseling Center, United Way, and Valley Vision to promote digital inclusion and improve broadband access. Our work will provide more families with access to broadband and a computer, increase educational attainment, and grow the neighborhood’s economy.” – Dr. Robert S. Nelsen

The project will launch in 2023. Digital navigators are essential to closing the Digital Divide, and we look forward to working with this team of digital inclusion trailblazers to establish transformational and lasting digital equity impacts in our community. With this pilot, led by Dr. Yvonne Harris at Sacramento State and a member of the CRCDI Steering Committee, we also have the opportunity to scale the CRCDI’s digital inclusion efforts, thanks to the support of NTIA. In addition, we thank the California Emerging Technology Fund which provided support in developing the application to NTIA, and is leading a Higher Education Collaborative for CMC grant recipients Sacramento State and Merced College and our evaluation partner, California State University, Chico. We also thank Congresswoman Doris Matsui for her valued ongoing support of our community’s digital inclusion efforts.

More information about this program can be found in press releases from NTIA and Rep. Matsui’s office.

###

About Valley Vision: For more than 25 years Valley Vision has used research to help governments, businesses, foundations and community groups better understand the issues facing our region. We believe that knowing and understanding the facts is the best way to establish a common working foundation for collaborative problem-solving. That’s why Valley Vision conducts, produces and interprets research including scientific public opinion polls, focus groups, community needs assessments, best practice studies and other research tools to bring to light the information local leaders need to improve our communities.

Shortages in Early Childhood Education

New report underscores employment solutions to improve job quality and working conditions

Sacramento, CA – October 26, 2022:  Valley Vision and the Greater Sacramento region Center of Excellence released an Early Childhood Education (ECE) Workforce Needs Assessment report detailing capacity and workforce challenges facing the Greater Sacramento Region. This report builds upon the work of the Early Learning and Child Care Taskforce which was created at the direction of Mayor Pro Tem and Chair of the Sacramento Employment and Training Agency Eric Guerra, to develop recommendations to improve access to affordable and quality child care and increase access to career pathways in early childhood education and child care. 

The report details a chronic workforce shortage with child care licensed capacity unable to keep up with demand. In Sacramento County, the number of licensed spaces only accounts for one out of every three children aged 0 to 5 years old. A large majority of licensed spaces (88.5% of total capacity) in child care centers in Sacramento County are for preschool-age children, with only 11.5% designated for infants. In addition, the impact of Transitional Kindergarten (TK) will play a significant role in exacerbating the early child care education workforce shortage by increasing overall demand, and creating a need to backfill positions from the existing workforce who may fill these positions.

Denise Lee, Interim Executive Director of the Sacramento Employment and Training Agency (SETA) that administers Head Start for Sacramento County shares: “The challenges outlined in this report are on point with what child care employers, like Head Start, are facing each day. The significant staffing shortages continue to hinder child care providers’ ability to expand service locations to meet demand; to lengthen operational hours for working families; and/or to keep centers/classrooms open on a daily basis so families are not scrambling with little notice. The crisis is real. However, so are the solutions. What is most valuable about this report is a set of recommendations that are actionable by key stakeholders in our community, including SETA.”

Child care workers and preschool teachers make well below a living wage in the Greater Sacramento Region. Currently the living wage for a one adult and one child household in the region is $37.27. The report found that child care workers in Sacramento County make one third of the living wage with a median wage of $13.74. It identified that preschool teachers’ make less than half of the living wage, with median hourly earnings of $16.68.

Mayor Pro Tem Guerra emphasizes, “Parents are struggling to find child care, year long waitlists prevent parents from returning to the workforce. At the core of our child care crisis is a shortage of early learning and child care workers, we must invest in child care workforce pipelines to ensure we have enough child care workers to meet the child care demands of our ever changing economic climate and needs of our families.”

Concurrent with results from Valley Vision’s recent Livability Poll, CEO Evan Schmidt explains, “Low wages continue to be a top concern of residents and impact the ability to afford basic needs, such as food and housing. Industries with chronic low wages are particularly concerning,  especially when dominated by women workers of color  who have historically seen significant wage gaps.”

The report also found inequities in demographic representation across the ECE workforce, with 70% of child care workers and teachers coming from non-white backgrounds, predominantly Latina. Nonwhite groups were underrepresented in supervisory positions within the industry (40%).  Additionally, 80% of the family child care home workforce and 52% of center teachers are age 40 and older, making retirements a concerning threat and strategies to attract younger workers more important.

The report sets forth recommendations to address our region’s critical early childhood education workforce shortage. “High quality early childhood education is a crucial support for young children, yet this report shows how we are not meeting the needs of our region. The report, through its findings and recommendations, makes clear that we need to both address job quality and working conditions alongside expanding educational pathways and professional development for child care workers,” shared Kevin Ferreira van Leer, Associate Professor of Child and Adolescent Development at Sac State.

Valley Vision is hosting a virtual conversation that will include a deeper dive into this topic on December 6th from 12:30 – 2:00 PM. This event will include a presentation of key findings and recommendations from the recently released report and a panel discussion to including representatives from Head Start, Sacramento County Office of Education, City of Sacramento, Sacramento State’s College of Education, and others.

###

Media Contact: Priya Kumar priya.kumar@valleyvision.org  (707) 386-8501

About the Report:  The City of Sacramento and the Sacramento Employment and Training Agency (SETA) convened the Early Learning and Child Care Task Force to coordinate efforts and address issues in the ECE industry. A working group within the task force commissioned the Center of Excellence for the Greater Sacramento region and Valley Vision to undertake a study that illuminates major issues facing the early childhood education workforce in Sacramento County and the Sacramento region. The report complements data and recommendations provided by the 2017 Sacramento County Board of Education Early Learning Road Map, and the 2019 City of Sacramento Strategic Plan to Increase Access to child care and Early Learning.

About Valley Vision: For more than 25 years Valley Vision has used research to help governments, businesses, foundations and community groups better understand the issues facing our region. We believe that knowing and understanding the facts is the best way to establish a common working foundation for collaborative problem-solving. To that end, Valley Vision conducts, produces and interprets research including scientific public opinion polls, focus groups, community needs assessments, best practice studies and other research tools to bring to light the information local leaders need to improve our communities.

About Centers of Excellence:  The Centers of Excellence (COE) for Labor Market Research deliver regional workforce research and technical expertise to California community colleges for program decision making and resource development. The Centers of Excellence Initiative is funded in part by the Chancellor’s Office, California Community Colleges, Economic and Workforce Development Program. The Centers aspire to be the leading source of regional workforce information and insight for California community colleges.

Seven Leaders Join Valley Vision Board in 2021

I am thrilled to share the news that seven truly outstanding local leaders have joined our organization’s Board of Directors in recent months, each who uniquely compliments Valley Vision’s core focus areas of workforce, innovation, food systems, civic engagement, and healthy communities. These individuals join an already impressive slate of directors who are committed to helping build a better future for our region.

Valley Vision is a unique organization with a special purpose: to make our communities the most livable in the nation. That’s why our board is composed of a diverse set of dynamic leaders who rely on Valley Vision’s independent research to identify current and future opportunities and to help solve complicated issues affecting quality of life through regional action. Their priority is to place the region’s future first and I am pleased to introduce you to them.

Meet Valley Vision’s 2021 slate of board members:

Chelsea Minor is Corporate Director of Public Affairs for Raley’s, an innovative, regional, family-owned grocery chain with stores founded and headquartered in Sacramento that operates stores across Northern California and Nevada. Chelsea is Raley’s lead spokesperson and oversees the company’s public affairs and brand reputation strategies. Her breadth of knowledge and industry connections will be instrumental in guiding Valley Vision’s important work in the food system space.

Clay Nutting is the owner and operator of Canon, among only a small handful of local restaurants recognized last year in California’s Michelin Guide. Clay co-founded a grassroots effort called Family Meal at the onset of the pandemic, which involved over two-dozen local and independent restaurants that provided over 250,000 meals to vulnerable residents across Sacramento County. His efforts in the community centered on food insecurity are tightly aligned with Valley Vision’s food insecurity and food equity strategies.

Gina Lujan is a social entrepreneur with 28 years of experience focused on building community, business development, innovation, strategy, and economic development. She co-founded Sacramento’s Hacker Lab in 2012, one of the city’s first local maker and coworking spaces that supports innovation through community-driven education and maintains a commitment to tangible access for all. Gina’s energetic entrepreneurial spirit and passion for education, opportunity, and advancement within underserved communities gives Valley Vision’s board a means for broader conversations and planning for strategies that support vulnerable populations.

James Jordan is a seasoned public service leader with a career in the transportation industry that spans over 25 years. He currently serves in the Federal Railroad Administration as Railroad Administrator and is responsible for the safety and operational oversight for every commuter railway located west of the Mississippi River. As an integral leader in the FRA, James works with the US Department of Transportation to promote and enforce safety throughout the U.S., including the rehabilitation of rail passenger services, supporting research and development, and advancing transportation for passengers and the general public. James’ boundary-breaking leadership at the FRA as well as his long-term commitment to the Sacramento region will support Valley Vision’s mission of equity, prosperity, and sustainability.

Jeff Dorso is the Senior Vice President and General Counsel for the Sacramento Kings, overseeing all legal and real estate development-related matters for the Sacramento Kings and its related companies, including the LEED Platinum Golden 1 Center, all real estate and media holdings, Sacramento Kings Guard (the NBA 2K eSports team), the Sacramento Kings Foundation, and the Stockton Kings (the NBA G League team). Jeff’s leadership in shaping development in Sacramento as well as his action-oriented mindset will help push Valley Vision towards effective and responsive action that supports the prosperity of our region.

John Costa, Senior Manager of Government Relations & Local Public Affairs for Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) Company in Northern California, works with community leaders and organizations throughout California, supporting PG&E lines of business and overseeing the day-to-day operations of various projects and company initiatives. John’s long history of engagement with government agencies and community based organizations as well as his commitment to healthy and sustainable communities will help Valley Vision support clean and sustainable communities for our region.

Michael Lynch, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Improve Your Tomorrow, is a social entrepreneur and certified professional fundraiser. As Valley Vision continues to seek workforce development solutions that answer a growing inequity gap across our most vulnerable communities, Michael’s work to improve academic outcomes for “at-promise” young people and transform systems that have historically failed communities of color will be especially valuable.

To keep up with Valley Vision’s work to advance livability in the Sacramento region, subscribe to our Vantage Point email newsletter!

Evan Schmidt is Valley Vision’s Chief Executive Officer.